Load stabilizer

ABSTRACT

A load stabilizer having telescoping inner and outer tube components with the inner tube threaded and receiving an adjuster are provided. The adjuster may abut the outer tube end for forced extension by turning of the adjuster. Compressible feet may be coupled to the opposed ends and be forced against opposed walls of a load receiving container for retaining a load. Such compression can produce binding of the interengaging threads and with release of such compression, the adjuster can freely turns for rapid adjustment along the threading of the inner tube.

RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 60/712,916 filed Aug. 30, 2005, entitled “LoadStabilizer,” the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated byreference.

FIELD

The invention relates generally to load stabilizers and in particular toa load stabilizer adapted for quick, efficient and easy storage,transport and assembly.

BACKGROUND

Load stabilizers typically include an elongate body that can be wedged,or otherwise secured, between two surfaces in a container and used tostabilize cargo during transport. For example, a load stabilizer may beused between the walls, or the floor and a roof of a van, truck, traileror shipping container. Sometimes several load stabilizers may benecessary to stabilize a load in a transport container. Consequently,various numbers of load stabilizers may be made available in a shippingoperation at different times within a single transport container, oramong many containers.

Certain applications for such load stabilizers enable repeat usage formultiple loads and the overall cost of the stabilizers is therebyaveraged over a number of load stabilizing operations. However there areother applications where load stabilizers are used for a single loadshipment and stabilizer cost can be a consideration. Accordingly a lowcost but adequately structured stabilizer i.e. adequate to helpstabilize a load for load shipments, is desirable.

Further, when not in use, or when being transported for sale, currentstabilizers are not readily adapted for efficient and convenientstacking, for example on a pallet, and thus occupy unnecessary spacewhen stacked. Minimizing the shipping volume can be an importantcomponent in minimizing cost and transport efficiency. Still further,current load stabilizers require a significant amount of time to set up,as the length may need to be adjusted as the distance between surfacesacross which a load stabilizer may span will vary.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the above needs, in various embodiments of theinvention, a load stabilizer may be configured to enable rapid assemblyand mounting to help secure a load (e.g. in a shipping container), butalso have a reduced cost over what is currently available. In someembodiments, the design further may allow for compact stacking toimprove storage and shipment of the stabilizer to the loading site.

In brief, in one embodiment, a pair of tubes may be telescopicallyinterfitted, with the inner tube having exterior threading. An adjusternut (adjuster) may be threadably engaged with the inner tube and turnedagainst the outer tube to adjust the overall length of the tubecombination. Elastomeric feet or end members (e.g. those shown inco-pending application Ser. No. 11/218,984, incorporated herein byreference) may be inserted into the opposed ends of the assembled tubesand may be forced compressively against opposing container walls untilsatisfactory securement of the load is achieved.

As briefly described above and as will be apparent from the detaileddescription which follows, in various embodiments, interengaging threadsof the adjuster and inner tube may be roll-formed to help allow usage ofgenerally thinner walled tubing, while helping to maintain adequate tubestrength. In various embodiments, the rolled threads may provide forrapid adjustment of the adjuster nut along the inner tube length, forexample by spinning, prior to and/or following some sort of engagementof the bar to the container walls. Further, this may allow the tubethickness and circumference to be minimized for cost and weightconsideration. In various embodiments, the components may bedisassembled for relatively compact stacking and shipping or storage.These and further modifications and advantages will become apparent tothose skilled in the art, from the following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view illustrating a load stabilizer in accordance withembodiments of the invention;

FIGS. 2 a through 2 c are side views illustrating partial parts of aload stabilizer in accordance with embodiments of the invention;

FIGS. 3 and 3 b are side views illustrating a load stabilizer inaccordance with embodiments of the invention;

FIGS. 4 a and 4 b are side views illustrating end members and adjustersof a load stabilizer in accordance with embodiments of the invention;and

FIGS. 5 a through 5 c are respective front, side, and top viewsillustrating load stabilizers in accordance with embodiments of theinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, reference is made to theaccompanying drawings which form a part hereof and in which is shown byway of illustration embodiments in which the invention may be practiced.It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized andstructural or logical changes may be made without departing from thescope of the present invention. Therefore, the following detaileddescription is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope ofembodiments in accordance with the present invention is defined by theappended claims and their equivalents.

Various operations may be described as multiple discrete operations inturn, in a manner that may be helpful in understanding embodiments ofthe present invention; however, the order of description should not beconstrued to imply that these operations are order dependent.

The description may use perspective-based descriptions such as up/down,back/front, and top/bottom. Such descriptions are merely used tofacilitate the discussion and are not intended to restrict theapplication of embodiments of the present invention.

The description may use the phrases “in an embodiment,” or “inembodiments,” which may each refer to one or more of the same ordifferent embodiments. Furthermore, the terms “comprising,” “including,”“having,” and the like, as used with respect to embodiments of thepresent invention, are synonymous.

The phrase “A/B” means “A or B.” The phrase “A and/or B” means “(A),(B), or (A and B).” The phrase “at least one of A, B and C” means “(A),(B), (C), (A and B), (A and C), (B and C) or (A, B and C).” The phrase“(A) B” means “(B) or (A B),” that is, A is optional.

The terms “coupled” and “connected,” along with their derivatives, maybe used. It should be understood that these terms are not intended assynonyms for each other. Rather, in particular embodiments, “connected”may be used to indicate that two or more elements are in direct physicalor electrical contact with each other. “Coupled” may mean that two ormore elements are in direct physical or electrical contact. However,“coupled” may also mean that two or more elements are not in directcontact with each other, but yet still cooperate or interact with eachother.

Various embodiments of the present invention may include a loadstabilizer adapted to be relatively quickly and easily assembled anddisassembled. In one embodiment, the load stabilizer, when disassembled,may be configured to increase the density of the number of stabilizersthat may be stacked on a pallet by virtue of the groupability of theindividual components.

FIG. 1 is an exploded view illustrating a load stabilizer in accordancewith embodiments of the invention. A load stabilizer 10 may include aninner member or, inner tube 12, which may include roll threads 14 on theoutside surface thereof. Threads 14 may be otherwise applied, including,but not limited to die cut threads. An outer member or outer tube 16 maybe adapted to fit over the inner tube 12 in a telescopic manner. Anadjuster 18 may be adapted to threadably engage the rolled threads 14 ofinner tube 12, and further may act as a stop for the telescopicengagement of the outer tube 16 over the inner tube 12. End members orfeet 20 may be adapted to be coupled to each outer end of the respectiveinner tube 12 and outer tube 16. In some embodiments, a washer may beoptionally added between the adjuster and the outer tube to reduce wearand friction. Use of such a washer may be beneficial in applicationswhere the device is intended to be reused several times.

In one embodiment, the rolled threads allow for a low cost thin walltubing to be used as the inner tube 12. Rolling the threads may beaccomplished by indenting the tubing with a spiral indentation along thelength of the tube, thus leaving virtually all of the material intact.In one embodiment, the rolled threads may be created using a hard steelwheel, or other suitable device, that travels along the tubing andindents the tube as the tubing is rotated, thereby resulting in agenerally helical thread pattern. In another embodiment, a steel wheelor other hardened material may be fixed in place and the rotating tubemay be advanced past the wheel.

FIGS. 2 a, and 2 c are side views illustrating details of variousembodiments of components of the load stabilizer embodiment shown inFIG. 1. Each foot 20 may include a main body 22 that may be, forexample, disk shaped, square or otherwise. A first side 24 of the mainbody 22 may include a plurality of protrusions 26, which may increasethe frictional engagement of the foot 20 with a wall or other surface. Asecond side 28 of the foot 20 may include a protrusion 30 adapted toengage an outer end of the inner tube 12 and/or the outer end of theouter tube 16. In one embodiment, the protrusion 30 may include a flaredportion 32 which may help accommodate different size tubing and furtherhelp retain foot 20 inside the tubes 12/16. The foot 20 may be made froma resilient material, such as rubber, which may add to the frictionalengagement of the foot 20 with the wall, and may also aid in securingthe foot 20 to the outer ends of the inner tube 12 and outer tube 16.

FIG. 2 b illustrates a cut-a-way of an adjuster in accordance withvarious embodiments of the invention. Adjuster 18 that may include innerthreads 15 that are adapted to engage the threads of the inner tube 12,such as rolled thread 14. In various embodiments, the inner threads 15may be integrally formed within the body. In other embodiments, theinner threads may be a separate nut or other threaded configuration thatis adapted to engage the adjuster.

The adjuster 18 may also have an inner recess 17 and shoulder 17′ orother obstruction that allows an end 19 of the outer tube 16 to engagethe adjuster a determined amount, and allow rotation of the adjusterabout the outer tube end. Thus as the adjuster is rotated, therebyadvancing the inner tube, the adjuster 18 may push against the end 19 ofouter tube 16 to cause extension of the load stabilizer. In someembodiments, when extended, the force generated between the tubes andpossible compression of the end members may produce a slight binding ofthe interengaging threads to help prevent the adjuster from rotatingduring transport. As the tension is released the adjuster can freelyturns for rapid adjustment along the threading of the inner tube.

In various embodiments, the end 19 may slidingly engage the inner recess17 such that it may be readily removed there from. This can allow forrapid advancement of the adjuster 18 on the inner tube 12 to make moreextreme length adjustments. Once in the generally desired position, theinner tube 12 and adjuster 18 may be reassembled with the outer tube. Inother embodiments the adjuster may be recessed on an outer portion, toallow the end of the outer tube to engage the outer portion.

In various embodiments, the outer body of the adjuster may have agrippable surface, such as ridges, knurling, and the like, to assist inincreasing the ability to extend the load stabilizers. In variousembodiments, the body of the adjuster may be also adapted for engagementby a tool such as a wrench to improve the leverage and torque that maybe applied to the adjuster, and thus increase the amount of outwardforce that may be exerted, thereby improving the amount that feet 20compressibly engage opposing side walls of a container. It will beappreciated that such compressed engagement helps produce a bindingresistance to turning and moving, thus helping to provide securement ofthe load. The interfit of the adjuster thread and inner tube thread mayotherwise provide for free turning that permits rapid adjustment of theadjuster along the inner tube length, e.g. by spinning, to enhanceassembly and application of the load stabilizer to a load.

FIGS. 3 a and 3 b are side views which illustrate the embodiment shownin FIG. 1 in operation. The load stabilizer 10 may be rapidly assembledby engaging the adjuster 18 with the rolled threads 14 on a first end 34of the inner tube 12, advancing it a desired distance down the innertube 12 toward the outer end 31. By virtue of advancing the adjusterdown the inner tube 12, an overlap portion 36 may be generated where theouter tube 16 overlaps the inner tube 12. The adjuster 18 may act as astop to keep the outer tube from advancing beyond the overlap portion38.

Feet 20 may be positioned on opposite ends 31 and 33, and the stabilizerbar 10 may be adjusted to a working distance 40 to fit between, forexample, interior walls of a truck or a trailer. When in use, the outertube should have a sufficient overlap portion 36 of the inner tubeprovide sufficient strength to avoid the stabilizer bar from buckling.The working distance 40 may be adjusted for different applications froma working distance 40 as shown in FIG. 3 a to a minimum working distanceas shown in FIG. 3 b. When in the minimum working distance, thestabilizer bars may be easily stowed, transported and/or staked.

FIGS. 4 a and 4 b are side views which illustrate adjusters and endmembers in accordance with various embodiments. When not in use, thepieces of the load stabilizer may be easily and relatively efficientlypackaged and shipped in their component parts. For example, theprotrusions 30 on each foot 20 may be adapted to fit inside oppositeends of the adjustment nut 18 forming first unit 42.

As shown in FIGS. 5 a through 5 c, the inner tube 12 may be fit withinthe outer tube 16 forming a second unit 44. A plurality of the secondunits 44 may be stacked in, for example, a general pyramid shaped stack46. In various embodiments, however, a variety of stackingconfigurations are possible given the telescoping nature of the tubes ofthe present invention. In other embodiments, the inner tubes and outertubes need not be telescoped prior to stacking. A plurality of the firstunits 42 may be stacked on top of the stack of second units 44. In oneembodiment as many as 270, or more, of the stabilizing bars can beloaded onto a pallet, which may be, for example, 2 feet high, 40 incheswide, and 5 feet long. The stack 46 may be formed on, or placed onto, apallet 48.

In addition to the discussion of various embodiments above, figures andadditional discussion are presented herein to further describe certainaspects and various embodiments of the present invention. It is to beunderstood, however, that a wide variety of alternate and/or equivalentembodiments or implementations calculated to achieve the same purposesmay be substituted for the embodiments shown and described withoutdeparting from the scope of the present invention. Those with skill inthe art will readily appreciate that embodiments in accordance with thepresent invention may be implemented in a very wide variety of ways.This application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations ofthe embodiments discussed herein.

1. A load stabilizer comprising: an outer tube, an inner tube havingexternal threading and adapted to telescopingly engage the outer tube;end members adapted to engage opposed inner tube and outer tube ends; anadjuster adapted to threadably engage the external threading of theinner tube and further adapted to rotatably couple to a second end ofthe outer tube; and wherein rotation of the adjuster is adapted to causeextension the inner tube with respect to the outer tube and force theopposed tube ends against side members to produce a load retentionforce.
 2. A load stabilizer as defined in claim 1 wherein the inner tubeis configured to have roll-formed threading to allow for usage ofthinner tube wall thickness and yet resist buckling upon achieving saidload retention force.
 3. A load stabilizer as defined in claim 1 whereinthe end members are elastomeric inserts interchangeably coupled to theopposed tube ends.
 4. A load stabilizer as defined in claim 1 whereinthe adjuster has an inner portion, an outer portion and opposed firstand second ends, said inner portion including threads extendinggenerally inward from a point at or near the first end, and a outer tubereceiver at the second end adapted to slidingly receive an end of theouter tube.
 5. A load stabilizer as defined in claim 4, wherein theouter wall is patterned to provide enhanced gripping and/or engagementby a tool.
 6. A load stabilizer as defined in claim 4, furthercomprising a threaded insert adapted to nest at least partially in theinner portion of the adjuster.
 7. A load stabilizer as defined in claim1 wherein the adjuster includes threading mated to the inner tubethreading such that compression provided by applying said load retentiveforce produces binding type effect that resists reverse movement of theadjuster and otherwise said threading enabling free movement of theadjuster nut relative to the inner tube as by manual spinning of theadjuster nut.
 8. A load stabilizer as defined in claim 1, wherein theend members are adapted to engage a first and/or second end of theadjuster to form a compact arrangement of a first shipping unit, andwherein multiple sets of inner tubes telescopically engaged with outertubes may be stacked on a shipping pallet, and a corresponding number ofsaid first shipping units may be stacked on top of the stack forshipping purposes.
 9. A load stabilizer assembly comprising: an innertube, an outer tube, an adjuster and a pair of gripping end members;said inner tube having external threading that threadably engages theadjuster, the adjuster being located along the threading of the innertube defining an inner tube section for telescopically engaging theouter tube and defining adjustable spaced apart opposed inner tube andouter tube ends; and said end members adapted to be forced against sidewalls of a container by turning of the adjuster nut relative to theinner tube; and said tubes each having substantially consistent tubulardimension along their lengths and said adjuster being generally tubularwith an outer gripping enhanced surface, and said end members havingsimilar inner ends adapted for insertion interchangeably into the tubeends and/or ends of said adjuster whereby multiple quantities of loadstabilizer components can be relatively compactly configured for storageand shipment.
 10. A method of shipping load stabilizers, comprising:inserting a plurality of threaded inner tubes telescopically into acorresponding number of outer tubes to form tube shipping units;inserting a compressible end members adapted to engage ends of the innerand outer tubes in each of a first end and a second end of an adjusterto form adjuster shipping units; stacking the plurality tube sippingunits a desired height and width and leaving a horizontal top portion;and stacking the plurality of adjuster shipping units on the generallyhorizontal top portion.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein stacking theplurality of shipping units includes stacking the tube shipping units ina generally stepped fashion.